82 - Decided
Mariana’s breath hitched. The room was empty. The curtains swayed slightly from the evening breeze, the faint golden light of dusk filtering through the glass. Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing moved. Nothing should have spoken.
And yet, “Iana.”
The voice came again. Clearer this time. Gentle. Feminine. Not loud—but it echoed directly inside her mind, bypassing her ears entirely.
Mariana’s fingers curled into her sleeves. “W-Who’s there…?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
No answer. Her heartbeat quickened.
This isn’t funny. This isn’t funny at all—
“I’m here.” The voice replied softly.
Mariana flinched. “Where…?”
A pause. Then, almost amused, “Everywhere.”
That did not help at all.
Her instincts screamed at her to panic, to call for help, to run—but run where? From what? There was no presence she could see. No shadow. No figure. Only that voice.
“Don’t worry.” It added gently. “I don’t intend to harm you.”
Mariana swallowed.
That’s exactly what something harmful would say—
But strangely, the voice didn’t feel threatening. It didn’t feel cold or malicious. If anything, it felt… warm. Vast. Like standing under a sky too large to comprehend.
Still, she moved slowly. Carefully. She walked toward her bed and sat at the edge, her posture stiff, hands gripping the fabric of her nightgown.
“… who are you…?” she asked again.
Silence. Then, "My name is Astrid.”
Mariana froze completely. Her thoughts stopped. Astrid. The name echoed in her mind like a bell. “N-No way…” She whispered.
Because she knew that name. Not well. Not deeply. But enough.
Astrid, the Goddess. The one who oversaw this entire world. The one barely mentioned in the novel, except in passing by priests and believers. And now, she was speaking directly to her.
“Tha-That’s not... That's not funny…” Mariana said weakly.
“I’m not joking.” Astrid replied gently.
Mariana’s breathing became uneven. “You’re… the Goddess…?”
“Yes.”
Silence. Then, “O-Oh... my... god...”
“That is technically correct.”
Mariana slapped a hand over her mouth.
Okay, okay. Stay calm, stay calm. You are being contacted by a literal deity. Totally normal. Totally fine. Nothing to panic about.
She took a shaky breath. “W-Why are you talking to me…?” she asked carefully.
There was a pause. Then, softly, “Because you are my Saintess.”
Mariana stilled. “I... just accepted that today…”
“I know.” Astrid replied.
Of course she does.
“I wanted to thank you.” The Goddess continued.
Mariana blinked. “Thank me?”
“Yes.” Astrid’s voice softened further. “It has been a long time since I’ve had one.”
A long time. Decades, according to the Pope.
“… you’ve been… alone?” Mariana asked quietly.
Another pause.
“Yes.”
Something in that single word felt… heavy. Lonely. Mariana’s grip on her gown loosened slightly.
“And now that you are my Saintess,” Astrid continued, “we can speak like this whenever we wish.”
Mariana’s eyes widened. “Whenever…?”
“Yes.” A hint of lightness entered her tone. “It alleviates my boredom.”
Mariana blinked. “That’s your reason…?”
“Partly.” Astrid admitted.
Mariana stared blankly ahead.
I am being used as divine entertainment.
“I... see…”
“But also,” Astrid added gently, “I can answer your questions. Ease your worries.”
Mariana hesitated. “Re-Really?”
“Yes.” Astrid said. “You may speak to me freely. Casually, if you prefer.”
“Casually…?”
“As friends.”
Mariana blinked.
Friends... with a Goddess...
“That’s… new…” She muttered.
A faint, almost amused presence brushed against her thoughts. “You’ll get used to it.”
Mariana exhaled slowly. “Then… thank you.”
“For what?” Astrid asked.
“For… this.” Mariana gestured vaguely. “My power. My affinity. Both mana and faith.”
There was no hesitation in the reply. “That was always yours.”
Mariana paused. “What... do you mean…?”
“You are the sole light of this world.” Astrid said simply.
Silence.
Mariana blinked. “I’m sorry, the what??”
But before she could press further, “Ask something else.” Astrid said lightly.
Mariana frowned.
You dodged that.
But she let it go, for now. “The-Then…” she hesitated. “… what happened to the original Mariana?”
Silence. Not the gentle kind, the heavy kind. The kind that made her stomach drop.
“Astrid…?”
A long pause. Then, “… I don’t know.”
Mariana’s eyes widened. “… what?”
“I don’t know.” Astrid repeated softly.
“That doesn’t make sense…!” Mariana sat up straighter. “You’re a Goddess...! Shouldn’t you know where souls go...?!”
Another pause. “… I should.”
Her breath hitched. “Then what—”
“Perhaps,” Astrid continued slowly, “her soul was erased.”
Mariana froze, cold. Completely cold. “E-Erased…?”
“Yes.”
“Tha-That’s not... That's not possible…” She whispered.
“It shouldn’t be.” Astrid agreed.
Mariana’s fingers trembled slightly.
Because if a Goddess didn’t know… then who...?
“W-Who could do that…?” She asked, her voice barely audible.
Silence. No answer. And somehow, that was worse.
Mariana swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe. “I-I…” She paused. “I’ll do my best as a Saintess.” It came out more like a promise than she intended.
Astrid’s presence softened. “You don’t have to push yourself too much.” She said gently.
“… I’ll try.” A pause. Then, “Can you... help me?”
“With what?”
Mariana hesitated. Then, “Ca-Can you help me escape Zafiel?”
Silence, longer this time. Heavier. “... no.”
Mariana’s heart sank. “W-Why…?”
“The gods are forbidden from interfering in mortal affairs.” Astrid explained.
Mariana clenched her fists slightly. “E-Even if you could...?”
Another pause. Then, “Even if I could…” Her voice lowered. “I wouldn’t.”
Mariana’s brows furrowed. “… why?”
A beat.
“Because I’m afraid.”
Mariana stilled. “Afraid…?”
“Of someone.” Astrid said quietly.
Her chest tightened. “So-Someone… who could kill you…?”
Silence. That was answer enough.
Mariana’s throat went dry. “What... is happening in this world…?” she whispered.
But Astrid didn’t answer. Instead, “Don’t worry.” the Goddess said gently. “I’m already grateful.”
“For what…?”
“For you.” She replied. “For talking to me.” A pause. “And for stabilizing this world.”
Mariana’s eyes widened. “Stabilizing...? What do you—”
“Good night, Iana.”
“Astrid, wait...!”
Silence. Complete.
The presence vanished as if it had never been there. Mariana sat frozen on the bed, her heart still racing. Her mind… a mess.
“Stabilizing the world…?”
What does that even mean…?
No answer came, only silence. And eventually, exhaustion.
—
Morning came too quickly. Mariana barely remembered falling asleep. But when she entered the dining hall, everything felt… normal. Too normal.
Grand Duchess Darelene sat at the head of the table, composed as always. Beside her, Grand Duke Maximus, already engaged in discussion.
“The eastern territories are becoming increasingly unstable.”
“The nouveau riche nobles are overstepping.” Maximus replied calmly. “They lack proper grounding.”
Mariana took her seat quietly. Her brothers were already there. Grand Prince Eirwen, calm and observant. Grand Prince Aguerico, sharp-eyed and restless. Grand Prince Alistair, relaxed but attentive.
“And the west?” Darelene asked.
“Similar.” Maximus said. “We’ll need to reinforce authority.”
“And the bastard?” Aguerico cut in.
The table stilled slightly.
“He has already executed several high-ranking nobles for treason.” Maximus said.
Mariana’s fingers tightened slightly.
Of course he did.
Darelene exhaled softly. “Then we must ensure Mariana keeps her distance.”
Mariana blinked. “Keep my... distance…?”
All eyes turned to her.
“We are discussing your... safety.” Darelene said gently.
Mariana hesitated. Then, she cleared her throat. “I have something to say.” Silence fell. “… I’m going to accept the position of Saintess.”
Stillness. Complete.
“… what?” Aguerico spoke first.
Eirwen’s gaze sharpened.
Alistair blinked.
“Mariana…” Darelene said slowly.
Mariana met their eyes. “It’s already decided.”
A pause.
“… what do you mean?” Maximus asked.
“I already told the Pope.” she said. Silence deepened. “It’s final.”
No one spoke for a moment because this wasn’t a suggestion. It wasn’t hesitation. It was a decision. And Mariana, for the first time, didn’t look unsure.